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Ben Lovejoy

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Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer who started his career on PC World and has written for dozens of computer and technology magazines, as well as numerous national newspapers, business and in-flight magazines. He has also written two novels.

He thinks wires are evil and had a custom desk made to hide them, known as the OC Desk for obvious reasons.

He considers 1000 miles a good distance for a cycle ride, and Chernobyl a suitable tourist destination. What can we say, he’s that kind of chap.

He speaks fluent English but only broken American, so please forgive any Anglicised spelling in his posts.

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Flying BA from London’s Heathrow? Your flight now departs from Terminal Samsung Galaxy S5

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 16 2014 - 4:04 am PT
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Heathrow Terminal Five - Official Opening

Update: It turns out Samsung isn’t exactly rebranding the terminal. iMore received clarification from Heathrow that Samsung is actually just renting regular advertising space available to anyone and using the slogan”Terminal Samsung Galaxy S5″ in its ad:

“Heathrow Terminal 5’s signage and passenger wayfinding has not changed,” a Heathrow spokesperson told iMore. “Samsung have rented advertising space in Terminal 5 with a tongue-in-cheek campaign using the line: ‘Terminal Samsung Galaxy S5’.”

But only for the next two weeks. The Verge reports that Samsung has bought saturation advertising for the Galaxy S5 in Terminal 5 at London’s Heathrow airport for a fortnight, and is even referring to the terminal as Terminal Samsung Galaxy S5. While the airport says the terminal hasn’t officially been renamed, a Heathrow spokesman said that they are “relaxed” about Samsung pretending it has.

From Samsung’s description of the campaign, it will certainly be impossible to miss: 
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100 billion searches a month, but a million miles to go, say Google founders

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 15 2014 - 4:37 am PT
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In Google’s annual Founders Letter, Larry Page revealed that Google was handling more than 100 billion searches a month, but said that the service was still “a million miles” from the service he’d like to see Google become.

In many ways, we’re a million miles away from creating the search engine of my dreams, one that gets you just the right information at the exact moment you need it with almost no effort.  That’s partly because understanding information in a deep way is a hard problem to solve …


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European court privacy ruling “disappointing” and “wrong balance,” says Google

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 15 2014 - 4:09 am PT
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Photo: dexigner.com

Photo: dexigner.com

In a surprisingly low-key response to a European court decision that individuals can require Google to remove links to sensitive information, executive chairman Eric Schmidt said that the court had got the balance wrong, and its chief legal officer say that the ruling was “disappointing” and “went too far,” reports the WSJ.

In response to a question at Google’s annual shareholder meeting, Schmidt said the case reflects “a collision between a right to be forgotten and a right to know.” A balance must be struck between those two objectives, Schmidt added and ”Google believes … that the balance that was struck was wrong.”

The European Union Court of Justice ruled that individuals could ask for the removal of links to information about them which was accurate where the passage of time made it “out-dated or irrelevant.”

Shareholders also raised concerns about the the controversial stock split that gave Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin 56 percent of the voting rights despite owning only 15 percent of the company.

Page said that the company’s goal is “making major investments in things that take a little longer to get done” and that by adding the new non-voting shares Google can avoid the “quarter to quarter focus” that he said plagues other public companies.

I have to admit sympathy with this view: too many public companies are forced by shareholders to focus on short-term financials rather than longer-term goals. Given Google’s record to date, it would be hard to argue that the co-founders are getting things too wrong …

Samsung offers “deep apology” after 56 workers contracted cancer from dangerous chemicals

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 14 2014 - 6:12 am PT
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Photo: TNW

Photo: TNW

Samsung has offered a “deep apology” and promised compensation to workers and their families after a documentary revealed that 56 of its employees contracted leukemia and other forms of cancer after coming into contact with dangerous chemicals at a Samsung plant. Several of the employees died as a result.

Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun said: “Several workers at our production facilities suffered from leukemia and other incurable diseases, which also lead to some deaths. We should have settled the issue earlier. We are deeply heartbroken that we failed to do so and express our deep apology” …


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Europe’s top court finds you can delete things from the Internet after all …

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 13 2014 - 6:12 am PT
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Photo: Associated Press

Photo: Associated Press

The European Union Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that individuals have a right to require Google to remove sensitive information from search results, reports Reuters.

The ruling […] came after a Spanish man complained to the Spanish data protection agency that an auction notice of his repossessed home on Google’s search results infringed his privacy […]

Google says forcing it to remove such data amounts to censorship.

The ruling reflects a 2012 proposal by the EU known as the “right to be forgotten,” in which it was argued that even accurate information may become “outdated or irrelevant” after a period of time has elapsed … 
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Google’s getting good at these inspirational ads

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 12 2014 - 7:13 am PT
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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXCH9T5Nnaw]

After watching a mother’s day video shot entirely on Google Glass and designed to bring a lump to the throat of even the most hardened viewer, we noticed it followed a video posted a week or so ago celebrating the work of teachers, with some not too in-your-face plugs for Google products … 
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Sony’s SmartWatch 2 can now provide Instagram notifications

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 6 2014 - 6:25 am PT
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Instagram-SmartWatch-2_2_result

If you’re an Instagram user with a Sony Smartwatch 2, Sony has you covered. The snappily-named Smart extension for Instagram app allows you to view notifications and read friends’ comments on your photos.

The app gets integrated into Smart Connect once installed. You can choose an update frequency ranging from 15 minutes to three hours, and the watch will then vibrate to indicate Instagram activity, displaying details on the display.

The app is a free download from the Google play store.

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Leaked photo of pink HTC One (M8) – perhaps destined for T-Mobile?

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 6 2014 - 5:23 am PT
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Generally reliable source @evleaks has posted a photo of the pink model HTC One (M8) he previously said was on the way, along with blue and red models. He previously leaked a photo of the red version.

No further details are given beyond the fact that it will be released at some point this year. After images of the red model were shown with Verizon branding, it made us wonder whether blue may be for AT&T and pink for T-Mobile? However, the pink model shown in the photo has no carrier branding.

As for the phone itself, we love the hardware, though have mixed views on Sense 6.

Lenovo offers its first consumer-oriented Chromebooks to world’s largest customer base, starting at $279

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 6 2014 - 4:56 am PT
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Lenovo

The profile of Chromebooks is likely to get a boost after the world’s largest PC manufacturer, Lenovo, announced its first Chromebooks aimed at the consumer market. Pricing starts at $279.

Lenovo, best known for its Windows laptops, launched its first Chromebook in January – but that one was pitched at the education market, selling in bulk to schools and colleges. This is the first time it has pitched a Chromebook directly at consumers – something which may worry Microsoft. Lenovo has 18.6 percent of the PC market, ahead of HP, Dell and Acer … 
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Patent jury foreman advises Apple to sue Google directly

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 6 2014 - 4:19 am PT
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Photo: technobuffalo.com

The foreman of the jury that awarded Apple just 5.5 percent of the $2.2B it claimed Samsung owed for patent infringements said yesterday that Apple should sue Google rather than handset manufacturers, reports the WSJ.

If you really feel that Google is the cause behind this, as I think everybody has observed, then don’t beat around the bush,” said Tom Dunham, whose job at IBM was to oversee developers expected to file patents. “Let the courts decide. But a more direct approach may be something to think about” …


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$1500 Google Glass costs just $80 in components, claims teardown company

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 1 2014 - 5:39 am PT
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Teardown-Image

The Google Glass Explorer edition, which usually sells on an invitation-only basis for $1500, comprises parts whose total value is just $79.78, claims Techinsights after a teardown analysis.

The company was careful to add that this is a preliminary estimate which is likely to be revised in the light of more detailed research. Google, quoted in the WSJ, has dismissed the estimate as “absolutely wrong” … 
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Scroogled! Google removes all ads from Google Apps for Education [Update: Business too]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 30 2014 - 4:55 am PT
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education

Update: Google has confirmed to TechCrunch that is is applying the same policy to business Gmail accounts.

Microsoft may or may not have killed its Scroogled ad campaign, in which it attempted to portray automated customized ad serving as an invasion of privacy, but it appears to have notched up a success. Google has announced today that it is permanently removing all ads and ad-scanning from Google Apps for Education.

[protected-iframe id=”f685b8e00c5d5cdaac8855c4af5b8e19-22427743-13611283″ info=”http://hub.video.msn.com/embed/af3dc580-133c-4b61-ace8-716cc3ae8c70/?vars=bWt0PWVuLXVzJmNvbmZpZ05hbWU9c3luZGljYXRpb25wbGF5ZXImbGlua2JhY2s9aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5iaW5nLmNvbSUyRnZpZGVvcyZmcj1zaGFyZWVtYmVkLXN5bmRpY2F0aW9uJmNvbmZpZ0NzaWQ9TVNOVmlkZW8mc3luZGljYXRpb249dGFnJmxpbmtvdmVycmlkZTI9aHR0cCUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5iaW5nLmNvbSUyRnZpZGVvcyUzRm1rdCUzRGVuLXVzJTI2dmlkJTNEJTdCMCU3RCUyNmZyb20lM0Q%3D” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]

Google had earlier disabled ads by default, allowing administrators to switch them back on if desired, but continued to use automated keyword scanning of Gmail to serve personalised ads if they were switched on. As of today, the option to enable ads is gone, along with keyword scanning within the education version of Gmail … 
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LG’s G Watch reportedly launching in France in June for €199, suggests $199 in U.S.

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 30 2014 - 4:26 am PT
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French site Les Numeriques is reporting that LG France has said that its G Watch will launch in the country in June, priced at €199. While a straight currency conversion would mean a U.S. price of $276, gadgets are typically priced higher in Europe than in the USA (partly due to taxes), so it’s likely that LG would match the $199 price of the Galaxy Gear 2.

If the watch does indeed launch in June, it’s likely to be the first Android Wear smartwatch on the market, ahead of Motorola’s Moto 360 expected sometime in the summer. Samsung’s Galaxy Gear 2 uses instead Tizen OS. Google announced the Android Wear platform and SDK last month. As we exclusively revealed last October, the platform puts Google Now functionality at the heart of the offering … 
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Google adds ‘Explore nearby’ voice command to launch Field Trip

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 29 2014 - 6:38 am PT
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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyRJG2rrw0E]

Google has raised the profile of the Field Trip app, which provides a virtual tour guide to help you explore an area, by enabling users to launch it by voice with an “Ok Glass, explore nearby” command. Previously, you had to launch it via the touchpad. Existing users will need to toggle the app to launch it by voice.

Engadget reports that the app has also been updated with content from more publishers.

A little over 200, in fact. Some of the more recent additions include Happy Vermont and Guide to Copenhagen. Yennie Solheim Fuller, a Niantic Labs marketing associate, tells us that they’re constantly scouring the web for hyperlocal content that they can incorporate into the app, with sources that range from Zagat all the way to smaller blogs and community sites. “We want content on tiny towns like Belmont too,” she said, emphasizing that Field Trip won’t just have info about big cities.

While the app first appeared on Android and iOS, developer Niantic Labs said at the time it was launched on Glass that it was “conceived with Glass in mind, but Glass wasn’t ready.”

Samsung S4 Zoom successor Galaxy K Zoom adds pixels, larger screen, 60fps video

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 29 2014 - 4:24 am PT
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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6pdF6pgeeo]

As teased yesterday, Samsung has officially announced the successor to the Galaxy S4 Zoom, the Galaxy K Zoom. Aimed at those who want more camera functionality than offered by the average smartphone, it’s very much what we expecting from the leaked photo and specs earlier this month.

The differences likely to matter most to anyone considering an upgrade from the S4 Zoom are a 20.7MP sensor in place of the 16.3MP one; a 4.8-inch 1280×720 display replacing the 4.3-inch 960×540 one; and a Xenon flash which Samsung claims gives more natural-looking light than LED. Video recording remains 1080p, but the frame-rate is doubled to 60fps for better slow-motion video. The processor also gets a bump from 1.5GHz to 1.7GHz Exynos … 
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Google buys communications-related patents from key Apple supplier Foxconn

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 25 2014 - 4:54 am PT
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Europe Antitrust Google

Foxconn, best known for manufacturing Apple products, says that it has sold display patents to Google for an undisclosed sum. Details are vague, with the briefest of statements quoted in the WSJ stating only that they were related to “communications technology.”

Foxconn has been seeking to reduce its dependence on Apple, which provides around 40 percent of its business, with its own product lines. Patent sales provide a further form of diversification for the company, which says that it has been granted more than 64,000 patents to date, and applied for a similar number again.

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Samsung aims to kickstart Tizen app development for smartwatches via $1.25M prize fund

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 24 2014 - 5:42 am PT
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To paraphrase the old real-estate line, the three factors most likely to drive the success or failure of a new operating system are apps, apps and apps. If Samsung is going to get its new Tizen-powered Gear 2 and Gear 2 Nano smartwatches to take off, it needs apps, and lots of them.

To persuade developers to create apps for what is currently a tiny market, the company has announced the Samsung Gear App Challenge, offering a total of $1.25M in prize money for the best Tizen apps. Samsung made the announcement in conjunction with Hackathon and Developer Day events in six countries to date, with more to follow.

The competition is scheduled to begin on 8th May.

If you’re still wondering which of the Gear smartwatches might be best for you, check out our detailed comparison.

Via SamMobile

 

Backlash against Google Glass was a known risk, but worth it, says marketing head

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 23 2014 - 5:49 am PT
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banned

Google Glass hasn’t always enjoyed the best of public images. There can’t be too many products that have found themselves banned  in everywhere from bars to workplaces to cars (that one later reversed), with governments raising privacy concerns and even noted fans wondering whether the product may be doomed.

Forbes staff writer Jeff Bercovici wondered whether early Glass advocate Robert Scoble was right in accusing Google of having botched the PR. Marketing head Ed Sanders, perhaps predictably, says no.

The backlash is a result of the way Google decided to roll out Glass, he says — but it was a deliberate decision to do it that way, with a limited public beta surrounded by a nimbus of hype and curiosity. “Yes, it was an unusual step of doing it so exposed, and risks come with that,” he says. “We knew there would be downsides, but we also knew and know there would be tremendous upside” …


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Samsung opens Innovation Museum, starts with electricity, ends with 180-degree 4K screen

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 21 2014 - 4:59 am PT
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sim

Samsung has been around for a while. From a grocery company and noodle manufacturer in 1938, it created Samsung Electronics Devices in 1969, with a black-and-white television set its first ever product.

To celebrate its 45th anniversary, the company has opened the Samsung Innovation Museum in Korea, a combined museum of technology and Samsung product showcase, reports Engadget.

The museum is undeniably stylish (and it helps that it’s brand new), but what I liked the most was the realia; the for-real artifacts from history. Not just a StarTAC and the first slimline TV, but an Edison filament lightbulb, the first ever TV.

Unsurprisingly, the museum becomes increasingly Samsung-focused as you move through the years, but does include products from rival manufacturers like Motorola, Nokia, Sharp and Sony. There’s even an Apple II in there, described as “the first home computer.”

appleII

Photo: The Verge

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Samsung building on green credentials of Galaxy series with recycled & recyclable packaging

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 17 2014 - 9:16 am PT
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Photo: Android Central

Samsung has announced that the packaging for its Galaxy S5 handset will not only be recyclable, but also partly made from recycled material. So the packaging your S5 arrives in may well be partly made from recycled S4 boxes.

Samsung says that both manual and packaging are 100 percent recyclable, and the plastic elements are biodegradable.

Naturally degrading plastic packaging material and charger cases using recyclable plastic and soy ink without petroleum solvents prevent soil and marine environment contamination. In addition, 20% of the material consists of waste plastic and recycled plastic with better shock and flame resistance for charger cases. The soy ink used to print its product manual and box improves the print work environment and save annual use of petroleum solvent by 30 tons.

Samsung points to the Galaxy product series achieving eco-friendly certification in 213 cases across six countries since 2011.

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Kindle for Samsung app to offer Galaxy owners 12 free ebooks a year

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 17 2014 - 6:31 am PT
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kindle

Amazon and Samsung have announced that a new Kindle for Samsung app will provide a download service designed specifically for Galaxy devices, and which will allow owners to choose up to 12 free ebooks a year from a choice of 48.

The service will be available first for the Galaxy S5 later this month, then rolling out to other Galaxy devices.

“We are delighted to be able to deepen our long-standing relationship with Amazon and offer Kindle for Samsung as the perfect app for reading on a smart device. With this service we demonstrate our commitment to creating and broadening key content partnerships that deliver rich and personalized experiences for our customers,” said Lee Epting, Vice President, Samsung’s Media Solution Center Europe.

To get access to the free books, you’ll need to get a referral to Samsung Book Deals. We’ll learn more about how this works when the service launches.